The 2026 USA CRITS season comes down to one final weekend in Winston-Salem, where two nights of high-speed downtown racing will decide the series champions in one of the tightest title battles in recent memory.
After six electrifying races across the Southeast, the season concludes May 22–23 with the WSCC: Streets of Fire Criterium on Friday night and the USA CRITS Finals: WSCC Gears & Guitars Criterium on Saturday, which serves as the 2026 USA CRITS Finals.
The men’s individual standings enter the finale on a knife edge. Leonel Rodriguez of MC Cycling Team leads the series with 1,400 points, but the chase behind him is separated by a single point. Marcos Mendez of Foundation Cycling New York sits second with 1,328 points, while Preston Eye of Clif Family Drifters Cycling and Bryan Gomez of Foundation are tied at 1,327.
The championship picture intensified over the last two rounds. Foundation Cycling New York reinforced its dominance in Spartanburg with Jordan Parra taking the victory and Gomez finishing second, helping the squad extend its lead in the men’s D1 Team Competition with 5,060 points. But momentum shifted in Suwanee when Lucas Bourgoyne delivered a breakthrough win for Team Cadence Cyclery p/b Waldo Racing, moving Cadence firmly into the team battle heading into Winston-Salem.
Cadence now sits second in the D1 Team standings with 3,998 points, led by Cade Bickmore and Bourgoyne inside the overall top 10. Foundation continues to control the numbers game with Mendez, Gomez, Parra, and Lucas Gaday all ranked among the series leaders.
Adding another layer to the finale is the arrival of a full Clif Family Drifters squad in Winston-Salem to support Eye’s bid for the overall title. With USA CRITS awarding start points, finish points, sprint points, and lap-led points, the championship can swing at any moment throughout the weekend.
The women’s competition remains equally intense. Liza Ray of Kingdom Elite Racing leads the overall standings with 1,400 points ahead of teammate Elizabeth Harden. Elizabeth Castaño of One Hart Racing – Nashville Local Cycling surged into contention following her Suwanee victory and now sits just ahead of Rebecca Lang of Team Winston-Salem – FLOW entering her home finale.
Kingdom Elite Racing leads the women’s D1 Team Competition with 4,561 points, ahead of One Hart Racing and United Cycling Women. But with Castaño’s late-season form rising and Lang racing on home roads, the final weekend promises aggressive racing from the opening lap.
The USA CRITS points system rewards aggression throughout the race. Riders receive 50 start points, finish points based on final placing, sprint points at three designated moments, and one point per lap led. That structure means the Winston-Salem finale will not simply be about who wins the last sprint; it will be about who controls the race from the first lap.
Friday night’s Streets of Fire Criterium features a fast, technical six-turn downtown course around Merschel Plaza before Saturday’s Gears & Guitars Criterium crowns the 2026 USA CRITS champions.
Beyond the racing, the Winston-Salem weekend continues its reputation as one of America’s premier urban cycling festivals, combining elite competition with live music, community rides, and family-friendly entertainment.
Fans can watch the finale live on Outside TV or stream for free on the Outside Youtube Channel. Series standings and event information available at USACRITS.com and WSCyclingClassic.com.
Photo Credit: USA CRITS
